Improvement in animal-traps



A. H. H OY. Animal-Trap.

Paientd July' 23, 1878.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

N.FE|'ERS. PHDTO-UTHUGRAPMER, WASHXNGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

ALBERT H. IIOY, 0F RAOINE,WVISCONSIN.

IMPROVEM ENT lN ANlMAL-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 206,240, dated July 23, 1878; application filed May 9, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. Hov, of Racine, in the county of Racine and State of VVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists, essentially, in a stationary pail, tub, or other vessel or receptacle, and a second pail or other vessel, or a weight or weighted follower, suspended above said first vessel and adapted to fit loosely therein, said two parts being provided with means for connecting them with each other for holding the upper part suspended and for releasing it at the proper time, whereby, on the entrance of a rat into the lower vessel, the upper vessel or weight descends with greatforce and kills the rat.

In carrying out my invention, I prefer to use two ordinary pails, such as are in common use for household purposes, for the reason that the rats are more readily deceived by the appearance of an article with which they are familiar. One of the pails remains stationary, and serves as a decoy for the rat; and its efficiency for such purpose is enhanced if it has previously been used for holding kitchen-refuse and retains some of the odor thereof, as rats are accustomed to forage in vessels of that character.

The other pail, or in lieu thereof a weight or weighted follower adapted to fit in the lower pail or tub, is arranged to slide on a standard extending upward from said pail or tub, and is provided with means for suspending it until a rat enters the lower pail, and with a trigger and connections for releasing it by the weight of the rat, or by the moving of the bait, so as to cause it to descend rapidly and forcibly and kill the rat.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of a rat-trap constructed according to my invention.

A A represent two ordinary pails or buckets, such as are in common use for household purposes. B is a false bottom or circular board, fitting snugly in the pail A, and servin g as a base or pedestal for a standard or vertical rod, 0, extending upward from the center of said board and passing through the center of the bottom of the pail A Above the board B is a second board or disk, B, which is hinged to said lower board, so as to allow it to rise slightly, as shown, and is provided with a central opening, through which the standard passes.

The upper end of the standard is forked or divided into two branches, or is provided with a slot in lieu thereof; and in this fork or slot is pivoted the trigger, consisting of a lever, D, having its short arm (I bent downward, and the edge thereof roughened, notched, or provided with ratchet-teeth, as shown.

To the long arm of the lever or trigger D is attached one end of a cord, E, the other end of which is attached to the bait. The cord E is connected with false bottom 13 by a short cord, c, and is passed downward through a hole in the board B, then through an eye or staple in the board B and then upward again through said hole in the board 13*, and has the bait f attached to its end, so as to keep said bait on the upper side of said upper board.

A pin, G, having a portion near one end roughened, notched, or toothed, is provlded for suspending the upper pail on the standard.

In order to set the trap, the upper pail is raised to the position shown in the drawing, and is there suspended by passing the pin G under its handle and through the fork or slot in the standard 0. The long arm of the trigger is then raised until the cords E c are taut and the upper board 13 is inclined slightly upward, as shown. The notched or toothed portion of the short arm (I is then made to engage with the corresponding portion of the pin G, and the parts are thus held in position so nicely that a slight pull on the cord E will displace them.

The trap being thus set, when a rat enters the lower pail A the weight of the animal causes the hinged board or secondary false bottom 13 to act as a lever of the third order, and to pull downward on the cord E, so as to disengage the trigger from the pin G and allow said pin to drop out of the slot or fork, whereupon the upper pail B descends rapidly and forcibly, sliding on the standard 0, and crushes the rat in the lower pail.

1n the event of the weight of the rat being insufficient to disengage the trigger, then the pulling and tugging at the bait f will accomplish it, as the cord 6 will pull downward on the main cord E, to which it is attached.

The upper pail may be weighted with bricks or stones, or in any other suitable manner; or a simple follower may be substituted therefor, being provided with weights and with means for suspending it.

If the weight of the descending pail is not sufficient to kill the rat water may be poured into the upper pail, so as to pass through the central opening and drown the rat in the lower pail while confined therein by the upper one.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The lever I), connected at one end with trip mechanism pivoted on standard 0, and having the bent notched end d, in combination with end-notched pin G, to hold the bail, as shown and described.

2. The combination with the cord E and the false bottom or boards B B of the cord 0 and bait f, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

ALBERT H. HOY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. DALE, 0. TOLL. 

